Convertible water heating system



March 23,1937: J, ORBAN 1 2,074,989

' CONVERTIBLE WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed April 11, 1935 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E John Orban INVENTOR.

March 23, 1937. J, ORBAN 2,074,989

CONVERTIBLE WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed April 11, 1935 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR John Orban.

a 7 gormav.

Patented Mar. 23, 1%37 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved convertible water-heating system, viz., a combined furnace-exhaust-heated and gas-burner-heated water-heating unit in an arrangement for sup- 5 plying hot water under various conditions of weather, environment and modes of utilization; this being similar in some respects to the Convertible gas and hot flue waterheater described and shown in my patent application No. 743,695,

filed Sept. 12, 1934; but having certain improvements over that apparatus as disclosed hereinafter.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved water-heating unit which is seatable on the top of a furnace and attachable to the smoke-outlet member of the furnace and includes an improved form of gas-burner, so that the heating of water by flame (from the gas-burning heater) and by hot fluid (from the furnace) and by heated air (rising from the furnace) can be effected through the heat-conducting medium of water-pipes (or coiled parts) which constitute parts of this water-heating unit.

Another object is to combine said water-heating unit with the same water-supply and circulation-tank that is operatively connected to a separate water heater, and to provide appropriate valved water-conveying pipes so that such heating unit can be used interchangeably with said separate water heater, according to variations of weather, emergencies, etc.

Another object is to provide an appropriate and effective automatic draft-regulating means so as to effect uniformity in heating and to minimize the necessary labor, fuel and consequent expense of operating the system.

Another object is'to provide this system with a very simple two-way valve and deflector, as a part of the heating unit, for changing the course of the hot fluid so it will pass from the furnaces outlet member into contact with the water-heating pipe-sections, or will pass by the latter without coming into contact therewith, at will of the user or opearator.

Another object is to provide, as a part of. the water-heating unit, a longitudinally jointed cross-connecting flue to enable the cross-connecting water-pipe to be attached to the waterheating pipe-sections after the latter are inserted in the heating inlet-flue and heating outletfiue, thereby to completely enclose the said crossconnecting pipe while providing a continuous hot-fluid-conduit from the inlet end of the emer- 55 gency flue or valved controlling flue that receives the smoke or hot fluid from the furnaces outlet member.

Another object is to provide an improved heatcontrolled valve-adjusting device for controlling the draught by moving one valve or gate to- 5 wards the position for opening a cold-air-inlet while moving a second valve or gate towards the position for closing the hot-fluid-air-passage.

Another object is to arrange the water-inlet and water-outlet pipe-sections in reverse relation to the direction of flow through the heating inlet-flue and heating outlet-flue, so that the cool water will first encounter the highest temperature in the water-heater, so the latter imparts maximum heat to the water while minimizing the waste of heat through the exit flue or final disposal flue.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the general arrangement of the furnace with its superposed water-heating unit supported in such position that it requires no floor-space, a conventional form, of separate water heater, a chimney to which these are connected for inducing a draught therethrough, and a. water-tank with its valved pipes and their connections.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the water-heating unit in horizontal section along the line 22 of Fig. 1, only a fragment of the furnace and of the heater-supporting frame being shown, and one of the gas-burners or fiuid-fuel-burners being omitted. 35

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail-assembly view showing how the cross-connecting flue and cross-connection of the water-pipe are constructed and arranged for being assembled without difiiculty.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional fragmental detail showing a simple construction and arrangement that can be made to produce satisfactory results and be produced at minimum cost.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail showing two coaxial water-heating coils connected by a common type of T-coupling, which may be used instead of the single coil shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to these drawings, in detail, wherein, similar parts are referred to by similar reference letters and numerals in the several views, the invention is described in detail as follows:

The chimney is shown at C; the liquid or solid fuel furnace, at F; the two gas-burners, at G; the conventional water-heater, at H; the smokepipe of the latter, at P; the water-storage tank, at T; the latter being supplied with a watersupply pipe ws, and a service pipe 81) for conveying hot water to radiators, bath-rooms, and other places and things that need hot water.

The furnace F is provided with a primary smoke-flue fa and a secondary smoke-flue consisting of the parts it; and fe. Removable cleanout caps are shown at fc, in several places, and dampers fd are indicated on the parts fa and fb for closing one while opening the other; for instance, when kindling a fire, the smoke-flue fa should be open so as to supply a stronger draught and carry off the unconsumed carbon etc., but when the fire has been well kindled and is giving off more heat in proportion to the unconsumed carbon, the damper of the flue-member jb should be opened, and the damper to fa. closed, so the smoke and heated air (hereinafter called hot fluid) will pass through the heating unit I-IU which is separately shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The above-mentioned heating unit EU is in the form of an open tubular frame which consists of a valve-controlled flue or by-pass hb, an inlet flue hi, an outlet flue ho and a cross-connecting flue he, the latter being of the knockdown form shown, viz., the part hcc having a hinge-joint at hey and securing means at has here shown as a screw-bolt through apertured flanges of the tubular part hcc. By tightening the screws or bolts at hes, the member hco is clamped on the lateral hollow projections hp which are primarily free and spaced from one another for a purpose presently explained. The heating unit I-IU also includes water-heating coils who and a water-coil connection wcc. For the purpose of conveniently, economically and properly assembling the water-coils with the watercoil-connection, the latter is made in five parts, viz., two pipe-nipples 1m, two pipe-couplings pc and a pipe-union 1011., the latter being here shown as a screw-clamp or clamp-band, though any appropriate form of union may be used instead of this form. After the coils are placed in the respective flues hi and ho, said coils having threaded ends, the cross-conduit hcc being removed, the nipples 1m having the couplings p0 thereon, the assembling is effected by screwing the couplings pc on the ends of the coils so that the free ends of the nipples meet midway between the coils,

and then placing and tightening the pipe-union pu. Next, the hinged cross-connection hcc is placed around the projections hp, clamped in place by the securing means hcs, and the adjacent ends of the inlet and outlet fines are then closed by means of their closing caps or endwalls' fc.

While each gas-heater G has some features in common with that shown in the above-mentioned application for patent, it is distinguished by some features that are explained as follows: A gasdistributor gal has gas-nozzles gn united therewith and provided with needle-valves m) for regulating the rate of flow of gas therethrough. For

each distributor yd there are several gas and air mixing heads mh frictionally secured to the respective nipples or nozzles on by a snug taper-fit of each nozzle in a tapered aperture of the correlated mixing head. To each mixing head is secured a distributing pipe dp having lateral extensions or gas-jets g7 united therewith by a tight frictional joint or by other appropriate means. These gas jets extend through jet-openings do of the heating flues hi and ho, being loosely fitted therein so as to be removable for cleaning, renewing, etc.; and to prevent accidental displacement of these jets from the jetopenings, an arcuate plate up may be provided with properly spaced openings through which the pipe-plugs pp extend into screw-threaded engagement with the pipe-ends that are remote from the aerating or mixing heads mh; so it is obvious that the plate ap of each gas-burner combines with the correlated gas-distributer yd and its nozzles on for securing the gas-burner in effective relation to the correlated heating flue; and in disassembling, the gas-nozzles 971 are first withdrawn by pulling or hammering or both, the plugs pp are removed, and then the distributing pipes can be moved laterally for disconnecting them.

In Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the fluegate or valve fdd has two alternative useful positions, the full-line position (Fig. 2) stopping the flow of hot fluid through the flue hb and directing the hot fluid through the inlet-flue hi from which it passes through the cross-connecting flue hcc, thence through the outlet-flue ho and back into the flue hb; whereas, the broken-line position of the gate fdd (Fig. 2) closes the inlet flue hi, and leaves the by-pass or emergency flue hp open, so the hot fluid passes by the heating flues hi and ho, and these latter flues and their adjuncts can then be cleaned or repaired without interference by the heat or hot fluid.

The outlet end of the valve-controlled flue hb is in open communication with a chimney-connecting flue of which may also be called a coldair-flue, inasmuch as it is provided with an airinlet ai and an air-controlling gate ag. A hot gas regulator hgr is pivotally supported in the flue hp and includes a pivot or axle that carries an arm a connected by a link-and-lever arrangement lla to a thermostat t of any appropriate kind and attached to the furnace or to the heating unit HU in any appropriate way; and by this arrangement or combination, the draught is automatically controlled, the gate hag being moved to check the flow of hot air, while the gate ag is moved to increase the flow of cold air into the chimney, through the cold-air flue of.

Referring again to the heating flues hi and ho, having the water-heating coils wha and who therein, it is seen (in Fig. 1) that each of these fiues is provided with an opening or outlet 0 through which an extension 6 of the respective coils adjoins and merges with a water-pipe, the one that connects with the flue hi being indicated at hwp, being a hot-Water-pipe; and the one that connects to the flue ho being a cool-water-pipe and indicated at cwp. These pipes are connected to the water-tank T in the proper relation, as shown, to effect a circulation of water therethrough and through the coils and their connection wcc (Fig. 2); and the direction of flow is indicated by the arrows adjacent to the water pipes hwp and cwp, this being counter to the direction of flow of the heating fluid through the heating flues, as indicated by the arrows on the latter and on their connection 2000 (Figs. 1 and 2) so the cool water enters the cooler of the heating flues, viz. the outlet flue hi, and the heated water leaves through the hotter of the flues, thus effecting advantages that will be obvious to those familiar with heat-exchange.

A cold-water-pipe 02 connects the water-heater H to the tank T and is provided with a cut-01f valve '02; and a hot-water pipe M is connected to the top of the heater H and is connected to the pipe hwp, and thence to the tank T through a mutual pipe mp which also connects the pipe hwp to the tank T. Valves u and are interposed in the respective pipes hwp and cwp for stopping 10 unit HU is in use. However, in extremely cold weather it-is possible to use the heater H and heating unit HU simultaneously, and fincombination through the mutual connections: mp'and T.

A drain-cock dc is provided in the cold-water- ?15 pipe cwp.

(iii

20 tion therewith.

When a duplex coil or co-axial coils are desirable, in lieu of the single coil of each heating flue, the same may be constructed as shown in Fig. where e represents the extension or cona nection to either pipe cwp or hwp. An ordinary T-coupling is shown at t, and an ordinary union is shown at u. The outer coil 00 is connected to the coupling 15, and the inner coil ie is connected to the union u. The opposite end (omitted from the drawings) is constructed the same as here shown in Fig. 5, except that the T-coupling connects to the cross-pipe wcc (Fig. 2) instead of to the pipe-section e. By superposing the waterheater on the furnace F, the dual advantage is attained, of conserving floor-space, and of utilizing the rising heat of the furnace for helping to heat the water-heater.

It is not my-intention to limit my patent protection to the precise details of construction and arrangement here shown and specified, for the invention is susceptible of numerous changes within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention, is:

1. In a water-heating unit, the combination of a flue having fluid-conducting means at one end portion to attach it to a furnace in open communication with the latter so as to receive hot fluid therefrom and having an outlet for said fluid at its other end portion, a heating inlet-flue disposed in open communication with the first said flue at a point near said fluid-conducting means and having a hollow lateral extension, a waterconducting pipe having a part within said heating inlet-flue and having one end at said hollow lateral extension, a heating outlet-flue disposed in open communication with the first said flue at a point near the said outlet of the latter and having a hollow lateral extension spaced from the first said lateral extension, a second Water-conducting pipe having a part within said heating outlet-flue and having one end at said hollow lateral extension of the latter, a tubular water-conducting connection provided with means to secure it to the ends of said pipes and being normally secured thereto and combining therewith to provide a continuous water-passage through said heating inletflue and heating outlet-flue, a cross-connecting 70 flue formed with a longitudinal joint that can be 75 and secured on said hollow lateral extensions while its longitudinal joint is closed, and means in the first-said flue to deflect hot fluid into said heating inlet flue.

2.The combination defined by claim 1, the last said means being operable to close said heating inlet-flue and direct all of the said hot fluid through the first said flue and out of effective relation to said water-conducting pipes.

3.'The combination defined by claim 1, the last said means being movable alternately into position for closing said heating inlet-flue and for closing the first said flue, for purposes specified.

4; The combination defined by claim 1, and means to heat the parts of pipe within either said heating inlet-flueor heating outlet-flue either independently of said fluid-conducting means or in addition thereto, at will of the user.

5. The combination defined by claim 1, and means supplemental to said hot fluid for supplying a flame within either the inlet-flue or the outlet-flue and thereby adding to the heat therein.

6. The combination defined by claim 1, and fluid-fuel burning means independent of said furnace and effective for supplying a flame within at least one of said flues so as to consume parts of said hot fluid and thereby minimize the loss of combustible matter while raising the temperature around said parts of water-conducting pipe.

'7. The combination defined by claim 1, and means in open communication with said waterconducting pipe to establish a circulation of water therethrough and supply hot water therefrom for utilization.

8. The combination of a furnace provided with a flue which has an inlet and an outlet, a heating inlet-flue in open communication with the first said flue at a point near said inlet, a heating outlet flue in open communication with the first said flue at a point near the said outlet, a cross-connecting flue at a distance from the first said flue and in open-communication with said inlet-flue and outlet-flue, a water-tank provided with Water-pipes in open communication therewith and extending continuously through said inletflue and outlet-flue and cross-connecting flue to provide a continuous water-circulating passage, means independent of said flue to heat the parts of water-conducting pipes that extend through said flues, an exit-flue in open communication with the outlet of the first said flue and having an opening for taking in atmospheric air and provided with a gate for regulating the rate of flow of air through said opening, flow-controlling means within the first said flue and operable to vary the rate of flow of hot fluid from the heating means in the flues that have parts of waterpipes therein, and heat-controlled means to adjust said gate and said flow-controlling means simultaneously.

9. The combination of a water-tank, waterpipes in open communication with the watertank and being united in a proper relation to provide a continuous water-circulating conduit, a furnace having a hollow outlet-member for the exit of hot fluid, a fluein open communication with said outlet member and united therewith for receiving and expelling hot fluid and being provided with apertures arranged therealong, a part of. said water-circulating conduit being within said flue, a fluid-fuel burner including nozzles that are arranged along and extend into said flue through said apertures for sustaining a flame therein and therealong so as to raise the temperature by said flame from its own fluid fuel and by consuming products of combustion in said hot fluid from the furnace, and thereby super-heating said part of the water-pipe, the said flue and the contiguous water-pipe and fluid fuel burner being superposed and supported on said furnace so as to conserve floor-space and to receive heat that rises from the top of the furnace, substantially as shown and described.

10. The method of making a water-heating device, consisting in providing a hollow member having a water container therein and also having rows of apertures therealong at opposite sides, providing fuel-conducting tubes each having fuelconducting jets extending laterally therefrom and also having an apertured aerating element at one end, providing a distributing head having fuel- 

